Sick in the Head

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12, KJV)

While the external pains and struggles in this life plague us often, our minds all too often are engaged in haunting battles. While external and physical sickness burdens some, some experience sickness in the head far more. Unfortunately such sickness is less recognizable to most and we are expected to function in a normal way even though it feels almost impossible.

Depression, anxiety, OCD... to list only a few but to which I am most familiar with. These are only names. Results and reflections. They do not make you. They do not define you. And there is no pride in what they offer. Having names for them is only a means to communicate them and learn about them. To understand a sickness brings in itself a healing. Because if its just something in you, something you DO, and something you FEEL, then its all on you. But if you can give it a name, you recognize that is not you. "that is the OCD talking." Its better to know a source then feel its just in you and it could be truth for all you know.

Such fights are attacks from "Spiritual wickedness". The devil will strike us where we are weak and use it to undermine our strengths, and use our gifts to his evil end. To combat the devil's work against us, we must go to battle. Because unless we fight back we will be defeated. Sometimes we think we go into the battle ourselves, and that we need to equip ourselves, by ourselves.

Each battle I've fought in my little strength, my little army, my own armor, I've lost a bitter fight. I caved. I couldn't resist. I believed and took to heart, the lie. And I obeyed the commands, each action I needed in order to justify, to make right, and to avoid a painful end. I lost the battle.

I am not here to equip you for your battle. My armor doesn't fit you either. And the words I say will not strengthen you or prepare you. If we had only our own and others strength to draw upon, we would lose each battle in a bloody mess. Sorry. But, fortunately, this is not the case.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39 ESV)

We simply don't have what it takes to fight the spirit of evil that draws us away from Christ and into sin. But here is the good news, Christ does. And He fought each battle we face till the death. The death of the enemy. Not Him. Not us. He already defeated depression, anxiety, OCD and death.

"Yeah I've heard that already... but hey um, hate to break it to you.. I am steal dealing with all of it." Yeah. Me too. Here is the irony, we still live in this battle. But we fight alongside the conqueror. We know who wins this one. He proclaimed His victory as he bled on the cross.

We will lose unless we put on the only armor that really fits. Armor that fits us right gives good movement and protection.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." (Romans 8, ESV)

So each morning when I rise, again I have to throw my rusty, stiff, and the two sizes too big, set of armor into the corner along with the cobwebs of my pride. Then, equip myself with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:14-17) Which are waiting, provided for me, in the Word of God.

Then I can stand upright in the battle of each day, knowing that the conqueror of all the battles, not only gave me the best armor in the Kingdom, fashioned in His gentle hands, but who also stands right next to me on the front lines of the battle that rages. This battle will end. And we now know the outcome. For we have more then mere hope, faithful assurance, for a life in the presence of God, apart from the schemes of the devil. Oh, what joy.